With Mother’s Day just over a week away I couldn’t resist in reviewing the Perfect picture book for Mother and Child. Come share in the joy of wisdom and wonder from the pages of……..
“Thanks to You” Wisdom from Mother & Child
Authors: Julie Andrews Edwards & Emma Walton Hamilton
Ages: All ages
Theme: gift of love and faith, perspective, wonder, wisdom
First Lines: Thanks to you….. I I spread my wings and try to touch the sky
Thanks to you…
I trust the leap of faith it takes to fly
Synopsis: From the front inside flap….. “Thanks to you… a cloud becomes a castle for a king Thanks to you… I notice wonder in the smallest thing.
Children learn much about the world from their mothers. But what about the unexpected wisdom mothers gain while parenting? Julie Andrews Edwards and her daughter Emma Walton Hamilton share their mutual discoveries and delight in the growth experiences of childhood and motherhood. Accompanied by photographs from the authors’ extended family collection, these personal exchanges between mother and child celebrate a special bond while reflecting a universal truth.”
Why I like this: Oh I don’t like this book; I LOVE THIS book. From the beautiful up-close photo of mother and daughter cuddling on the front cover, to the small child sitting next to her young Mum on the steps of the lake so prominently featured on of the most famous movies of all time, this book is full of all those special ohhh and awww moments in a child’s life. The beautiful rhyming text opens up a world we as adults rarely take notice of. As Emma and Julie explain in the Foreword,… as parents and grandparents we hand down lessons, but what emerged through writing this book was the lessons they have learned from their own children. The power of love as a parent, risk taking, courage and perception we learn from children. While we look at the bigger picture our children invite us to look at the details. “Our mothers have shaped us, but our children define us.”
As I flip through the pages I am reminded of why I bought this book. It reminds me of my Nana. Her and I spent many happy hours together when I was younger. Long walks picking daisys, sitting on the sandy white beach eating dinner, or dancing in her living room to Dinah Lees “Blue Beat”. (now I am showing my age…lol.) Always we chatted about anything and everything… oh the memories.
It’s a beautiful book to give as a gift from mother to child, or child to mother, or grandmother to grandchild, or grandchild to grandmother. From the very young to the elderly. This would be the perfect book for a perfect gift.
Mothers’ Day
Sunday 13th May
Resources and Findings: The lovely Julie Andrews Collection website has some tips on how to spend time reading with your child… http://julieandrewscollection.com/10-tips-for-getting-the-most-out-of-reading-with-your-child/
Scroll down this website for some neat writing crafts to make for Mothers Day… http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/mothersday/
Here are some very creative ideas for Mothers Day, to make you smile…. http://www.daniellesplace.com/html/mothersday.html
Another beautiful craft making ideas for Mum website… http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Mothers-Day-Crafts.html
This is from a website of hilarious images children have of parents and life in general.
http://www.nanceestar.com/KidsMomImages.html
For more books with resources please visit the lovely author Susanna Leonard Hill’s blog and find the tab for Perfect Picture Books. Her blog is full of resources links and activities associated with the books reviewed by many authors.
Writer and Dreamer at work 
I started reading this and immediately thought “Mother’s Day” as well. What a beautiful testament to the love of a mother. Great choice!
Thankyou Kirsten, isn’t it beautiful! With few words it speaks volumes!
Oh, this would be the perfect Mother’s Day gift, thank you for the suggestion!
Your welcome Amy. You have time to pick one up… enjoy!
That sounds beautiful, I might just have to get that instead of the other mother book I was going to get 🙂
Oh yes do get it Catherine, you will love it,
This is such a lovely and lovingly-written book. The photographs so perfectly illustrate the text — my favorite photo is (I think) the one of sweet little sister (yes I know who it is) reaching up to the tree branch where her brother is perched.
I gave this book to my Mum when she was in hospital once. She loved it, as did the nurses and her visitors.
mmm… there are so many lovely photos it’s hard to pick. Towards the back I love “Wherever we may roam, the same stars will shine above. We’re bound by all that’s beautiful and Love.” The sunset picture and the following two pictures that accompany that text are beautiful, especially the very last one of Julie and Emma.
What a lovely book this sounds! I’m so glad you shared – it sounds like the perfect gift for my step-daughter who will be having her first mother’s day this year 🙂 What a wonderful one to add to our list!
So glad you liked it Susanna, you will love it, make sure you buy an extra copy for yourself, or better still get your family to get it for you.
This would indeed make a fabulous mother’s day gift. I gave it as a gift last Christmas as a joint present to my best friend and her daughter.
Thankyou Joanna. It would make a great gift anytime of the year, indeed.
Yes, it is an ideal Mother’s Day gift. It is a beautiful book and your timing was perfect — you gave people enough time to purchase it. You wrote such a lovely review Diane!
Thankyou for your kind words Pat. Yes I thought posting it now would give more time for people to look for it and also for them to organise crafts, if they want to urge their kids to make some.
Just saw that my library has it, and it is checked in, so off I go…thanks!
Cool! You will love it Julie.
Such a gorgeous book for Mother’s Day… too sweet.
Isn’t it! I love it!
This book looks like it has a great message! I would like to read this with my Mom! 🙂
sigh
oh julie such a big sigh?
Just think it’s so sweet of Erik!
oh you will both love it Erik, as would your sister.
This book looks amazing. I would love to share it with my Mom and my daughter.
Hope you have time to get it Darlene. Thanks for stopping by.
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